Ladder chain



in 3-3 of-Figur 1.

Patented July 24, 1934,

LADDER. CHAIN Bradley S.- Carr, Chicago, 111., alsignor to Amer-.-

ican Manganese Steel Company, Chicago Heights, Ill., a corporation of Maine application February 25, 1233, Serial No. 658,568 a cum. (CI. 14-32) This invention relates to ladder chains, and has been illustrated in'such a chain as might be used for various types of heavy work, of

which dredging is one example. For, various.

5 purposes the particular links of thechain might be provided with special extensions, such as scraper blades, but for the sake oi simplicity, no such extensions -or attachments have been illustrated -4- For many years considerable thought has been devoted to the development of chains of the general type illustrated, but such chains have been only partially satisfactory for one reason or another. It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a chain in which the features of sturdiness, compactness, durability, cheapness and ease of assembly, and ease of ac-' tion and use are combined to a greater extent ,I than before. In the illustratedform oi the in vention, this object has been accomplished by providing frame links spaced by pairs of" bar links'wh'ich engage bosses on the frame links,

i and by providing rollers "which bear laterally againstisaid bosses holding said bar links in place, and-being pivoted on pins which extend through said bosses. i YWith these and various other objects in view,

the inventionmay consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be r so more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, andclaims appended hereto.

1 In the drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of thedevice, and wherein like reference ascharactersareusedtodesignatelikeparts,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a' section of one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same; and

Figure 3 is a section taken through the line Although my invention may take many forms,

only one form has been chosenfor illustration. This form is made up of the frame links 10, the bar links 12, the rollers .14, the pins 18 and rivets 18. The shape and construction of the frame link 10 is shown most-clearly -at the-left Y link is clearlyexposed, the other end is identical with it. These links are madeup of the side i 50 members 20, the barrel members 22 and the bosses 24. The bosses and barrel members are provided with bores 26 intowhichthe pins 16- may be -'lhebores may be enlarged at the central portion for the sake ofease in '55 lining and to reduce the weight of metal. Radial the comparatively small'headiof the pinlfi on the other side against the. comparatively 'smaliendofthebossesza- 9 holes 28 may be provided as shown, for rivets. The structure of the side links 12 is clearly shown at the right-hand end of figures land 2, being provided at each end with a hole 30 of a size, to fit snugly over the bosses 24- without no binding- As clearly shown in Figure 1, a pair of the links 12 couple together two of the frame links 10 by being slipped over the mpectivebosses 24. The side bars 12 are preferably held in place by the rollers 14 vwhich are rotatably as carriedby the pins 16. The pins 16 are shaped as shown clearly in Figure 3,a'nd are securely held in place by therivets'lil passing through theholes28. p a -Ihe operation of the chain is obvious, but it may be pointed out that the bosses 24should be slightly longer than the thickness of the associated part of the bar link '12 so that the link wil not be pinched between the-roller l4 and the enlarged portion 32 of the frame link, 7t 7 Likewise the 'pin 16 should be'oi suchdimenhon, that the roller 14' will not be bound by being pinched against the Withthese dimensions, it is seen that the roller 14 may'rotate fairly ireely, bearing on one side against an It is to be understood that embodiments of, the invention, including some in 35 improvedi'orm, will be apparent, and in the, course ot time more, will be devised by those,

skilled iii-the are. It is not desired that this in-. vention be limited to'the details described, for its scopeincludes all such forms or improvements as 0 come within the spirit of the following claims, f

construed-as broadly as the priorart-will permit.

What-is claimedisi- LAchain comprising and'side bars, each-of theinnerlinks having protruding '6 hollow bosses at its ends upon which the side}; loosely lournaled,=androllers secured to said bosses and locatedto retain said side bars on said bosses, said being shaped to permit the free removal of said side bars thereno end of Figure .1.- Although only one end of this 'from when said rollers areremoved;

2. A chaingcomprising inner links and side bars,eachof.theinnerlinkshavingpro hollow bosses at its ends upon which the side bars are loosely journaled, and rollers secured 1 'tosaid bossesandlocatedtoretainsaidside' bars on said bosses, said bosses be'ina longer than the thickness of the side bars at the point of engagement, whereby pinching oi the side no bars between the rollers and the inner link is prevented.

3. A chain comprising inner links and side bars, each of the inner links having protruding hollow bosses at its ends upon which the side bars are loosely iournaled, and rollers secured to said bosses by axial pins riveted-to said inner link, said bosses being longer than the thickness of the side bar's at the point of engagement, whereby pinching of the side bars between the rollers and the inner link is prevented, said pins. being of such length that the rollers are held loosely against the bosses. v

4. A chain comprising inner links and side bars, each of the inner links having protruding hollow bosses at its ends upon which the side bars are loosely journaled, and rollers secured to said bosses each by a separate axial pin secured to said inner link, said bosses being longer than the thickness of the side bars at the point of engagement, wherebyvpinching or the side bars between the rollers and the inner link is prevented, said pins being of such length that the rollers are held loosely against the bosses.

5. A chain comprising inner links and side bars, each of the'inner links being formed with integral transverse barrel portions and having protruding hollow bosses at its ends upon which the side bars are loosely iournaled, and rollers secured to said bosses and located to retain said side bars on said bosses, said bosses being shaped to permit the tree removal of said side bars therefrom when said rollers are removed.

6. A chain comprising inner links and side bars, each of the inner links being formed with integral transverse barrel portions and having protruding hollow bosses at its ends upon'which the side bars are loosely-journaled, and rollers secured to said, bosses and located to retain said side bars on said bosses, said bosses being longer than the thickness of the side bars at the point of engagement, whereby pinching of the side bars between the-rollers and the inner link is prevented.

7. A chain comprising inner links and side bars, each oi the inner links being formed with integral transverse barrel portions and having prgtruding hollow bosses at its ends upon which protruding hollowbosses at its ends upon which the side bars are loosely iournaled, and rollers secured to said bosses each by a separate axial pin secured thereto, said bosses being longer than the thickness of the side bars at the point of engagement, whereby pinching of the side bars between the rollers and the inner link is prevented, said pins being of such length that the rollers are held loosely against the bosses.

BRADLEY S. CARR.

.lOS 

